The Girl's Got Secrets (Forbidden Men 7)

Since I wasn’t my roommate and all my answers didn’t end with sex, I vetoed the “fuck Asher Hart’s brains out” idea. Jodi and I compromised and decided we needed to head to karaoke night again, get some answers and learn the truth...or the constant wondering might drive us insane.

I have no idea why I went as Sticks. Asher had told me he probably wouldn’t recognize his Incubus shirt girl even if he saw her again and he most likely wouldn’t recognize me as the one girl who’d tried out for his band because of my wig either, but I didn’t want to risk it. So I pulled on my mask, fake torso and man panties, then Jodi and I went clubbing.

Grim wasn’t working tonight, so I wondered if this doorman was the Harper guy Asher had mentioned. When we reached the front of the line, I was already sliding my hand into my back pocket for my wallet to get our entry fee and ID, but Jodi had to go and point my way. “He’s with the band.”

I sent her a teeth-gritting glare, but the doorman burst into a huge smile. “Oh, are you Sticks, the new drummer? Hey, man, nice to meet you. I’m Harper.” He stuck out a hand to shake with me, so I cleared my throat and tried to get my “guy” on.

“Hey,” I said, doing the whole head bob thing men did.

Harper had a much better temperament than Grim had had. He didn’t ask for any identification, and he let Jodi and me through without charging us an entry fee.

“I can’t believe that actually worked,” I said, glancing back, just to make sure no one was chasing us down for money yet.

Jodi grinned. “Of course it did! You’re a VIP here now. Let’s go see if we can get free booze too.” When she hooked her arm through mine, I tried to pull us to a stop.

“No, really. Let’s not push it.”

I was kind of loath to go anywhere near the alcohol right now. Asher was bartending, and that’s exactly where he’d be.

Sure, he was the reason we’d come here tonight, but now that we were actually here and I might actually learn he might’ve actually been attracted to me—the girl version of me—once upon a time, everything was just...yeah. It all had me repeating the word actually over and over in my head, and I had a sudden bout of actual stage fright.

Honestly, I wasn’t sure how I’d be able to look into his amazing green eyes ever again.

Jodi didn’t seem to care what my nerves were going through, though. She clutched my arm harder. “This is why we’re here, puta. Time for answers!”

Dragged by the elbow, I reluctantly followed but argued with her the entire way. “You know, I’m not sure why we came here at all. He put every detail imaginable about his Incubus shirt girl in the song. And it’s not like I have a visible mole or tattoo or distinctive feature he might suddenly remember. Hell, he didn’t even recognize you as the sidekick who sang with me when he met you last night. So, really, what more could we get from him?”

“He didn’t say how long her hair was or if she was taller or shorter than said sidekick.” She pinched me in the arm, making me yelp. “And that’s for calling me a measly sidekick, by the way. Puta. I’m no one’s sidekick. I am my own force of nature, thank you very much.”

True that. But instead of apologizing, I laughed at her offense, because I knew that was what she wanted me to do, until suddenly, we were at the bar and nothing seemed so funny anymore.

“I don’t want to do this,” I whined, trying to back away while Jodi shoved me forward.

When I finally gave in to her, I went sprawling into the counter, smacking my gut against the edge and causing the nearest bartender to whirl my way in surprise.

He wasn’t Asher, thank God. But he was gorgeous, and having him see me sprawled like a moron against the bar made my face heat miserably inside my mask. I sent the hottie bartender an apologetic wince and waved. “Hey...sorry, about that.”

He squinted a second before pointing at me. “It’s Sticks, right?”

I nodded. “Right. And you’re...Mason?”

Grinning, he sent me a thumbs-up. “What’s up? Can I get you and your...” He glanced at Jodi. “...friend a drink?”

“I want a piña colada,” Jodi immediately announced.

Dammit! I scowled at her. Of course, she’d drink one of those right in front of me, when I was trying to be all manly.

“Sure thing,” Mason said and glanced at me. “Sticks?”

Since I had liked the Angry Orchard Asher had gotten me the night before, I asked for one of those.

Mason turned away to fill our order, and Jodi lifted onto her tiptoes to call into my ear, “I don’t see your man. Are you sure he’s working tonight?”

“Shh...” I waved her quiet. ?

?He’s not my man, and yes, I’m sure.”

“Well then, where is he?”